Aesop's Fables: Townsend (1867)
108. The Mice and the Weasels (Perry
165)
THE WEASELS and the Mice waged a perpetual war with each other, in which
much blood was shed. The Weasels were always the victors. The Mice thought
that the cause of their frequent defeats was that they had no leaders
set apart from the general army to command them, and that they were exposed
to dangers from lack of discipline. They therefore chose as leaders Mice
that were most renowned for their family descent, strength, and counsel,
as well as those most noted for their courage in the fight, so that they
might be better marshaled in battle array and formed into troops, regiments,
and battalions. When all this was done, and the army disciplined, and
the herald Mouse had duly proclaimed war by challenging the Weasels, the
newly chosen generals bound their heads with straws, that they might be
more conspicuous to all their troops. Scarcely had the battle begun when
a great rout overwhelmed the Mice, who scampered off as fast as they could
to their holes. The generals, not being able to get in on account of the
ornaments on their heads, were all captured and eaten by the Weasels.
The more honor the more danger.
George Fyler Townsend's translation of the fables, first published in 1867, is
in the public domain and can be found at many websites, including Project
Gutenberg.
Illustrations come from: Aesop's Fables, by George Fyler Townsend, with
illustrations by Harrison Weir, 1867, at Google
Books. |